October 12, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big MachineThis week, Tim McGraw returns to the top of the country chart for the first time since 2016’s “Humble and Kind,” as “I Called Mama” ascends to number one.

Before Tim shared the emotional song with the rest of the world, first, he needed to run it by his mother.

“I didn’t send it to her until I knew it was gonna be the single,” he explains. “And then I sent it to her, and my mom’s gotten better with the phone now.”

“So, I sent it to her and I said, ‘We’re gonna release this single and it’s gonna come out Mother’s Day weekend,'” he continues. “And then she sent me crying emojis.”

Tim knew that meant his mom needed a moment.

“I knew better than to call her because I knew what she was doing,” he says. “I knew she wouldn’t be able to talk at the time because I know my mom pretty well.  I knew exactly what she meant when she sent those emojis, that’s why she didn’t call.”

“And it’s also a cool thing is that the single art is my mom,” he adds. “It’s a picture from her, right before she found out she was pregnant with me, actually.”

“I Called Mama” is the lead single from Tim’s new album, Here on Earth. 

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 9, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Jason Kempin/ACMA2020/Getty Images for ACM Embodying the message of his song “Worldwide Beautiful,” Kane Brown joined members of the Boys & Girls Club for a virtual town hall. 

Kane, who is donating a portion of the proceeds from “Worldwide Beautiful” to the organization, joined more than 100 of its young members from across the U.S., as well as military stations around the world, on Zoom for an inspiring conversation that included advice from the country star on how to overcome challenges. 

“I would say anybody dealing with a tough situation, I know it’ll be hard, but you need to embrace it, get stronger from that, learn from it and push forward,” he encourages. “Always keep your head looking straight, stay out of trouble and you will have a good career in whatever you want to do.”

At conversation’s end, Kane was invited to become a lifelong Club member.

Earlier this week, it was announced that the hit maker will serve as one of the co-hosts of the 2020 CMT Awards, alongside Modern Family star Sarah Hyland.

He’s nominated twice in the category of Collaborative Video of the Year for the “Cool Again” remix featuring Nelly and “One Thing Right,” his collaboration with Marshmello.  

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 9, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big Machine Records Justin Moore transports listeners to the days of growing up in his new single, “We Didn’t Have Much.” 

Today, Justin debuted the song that serves as the first single off an impending album, expected to be released next year. 

The lyrics find him traveling down memory lane, reflecting on simple country life from his father working the land to the smell of his mother’s home cooking wafting through the home. 

The story serves as the frame for a series of memories that come to life in photographs in the lyric video, including some of the singer as a young boy on Christmas morning, posing with his parents on his high school graduation day and onstage snaps as a modern day country star. 

“I’m really excited to get ‘We Didn’t Have Much’ out to Country radio. It sounds different than any other song we’ve released to radio in my career,” Justin expresses.

“I think it’s a poignant lyric for this time in our lives also. 2020 has led my family and I to lead a more simple life than what we are accustomed to. This song speaks to the beauty in that simplicity,” he adds. 

“We Didn’t Have Much” follows Justin’s most recent number one hit, “Why We Drink.” 

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 9, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

October 9, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

UMG Nashville Travis Denning honors the “Goodyears” with his new song. 

Becoming a fan favorite since Travis debuted it in his live set, “Goodyears” calls on wordplay to pay homage to the simple pleasures of small town life, from cracking open a cold beer on a Friday night to rolling down country lanes on trusty Good Year tires. 

“Rollin’ on them Goodyears/Flyin’ on them high times/Circle K cold beer/Growin’ up on a Friday night,” the Georgia native croons over a modest, guitar-driven melody.

Travis describes the song as a personal “creed,” noting how his parents instilled in him the values of hard work and earning what you get in life.

“I grew up surrounded by people who knew that, and knew that sometimes the things we work for don’t come easy. There’s no denying the bad times make the good even better,” Travis elaborates in a statement. “But when they do come, we sure know how to stop and take it all in. I think that’s something we can all relate to right now.”    

Travis topped the country charts earlier this year with “After a Few,” a song that’s also earned him a CMT Award nomination for Breakthrough Video of the Year. He’ll perform the single during the ceremony on October 21, airing at 8 p.m. ET. 

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.